Nintendo wasn’t the only company to unveil a new gaming device at E3. On Monday, gamers got their first look at Sony’s PlayStation Vita (PS Vita), a new portable gaming device set to hit stores in time for the holidays.

The PlayStation Vita, codenamed the NGP, will include 5-inch multi-touch screen, a rear touch pad, and two analog sticks, in addition to the normal PlayStation controls. Gamers can also use the device to connect with other players via Wi-Fi hotspots and cellphone networks, as well as through the use of GPS location-tracking technology.

“Smartphones and tablets have really created a large market for casual gaming,” said Kazuo Hirai, the chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment. “We want to make sure we’re in both areas.”

Gamers can get their hands on a Wi-Fi version of the PS Vita for $249, while the 3G version will go for $299. AT&T will be the Vita’s exclusive service provider in the United States. Though Sony has announced the PS Vita will have a staggered launch through the end of 2011, they did not reveal when or where the gadget will debut.

According to Sony executives, the PS Vita is the company’s biggest product launch since the PlayStation 3 (PS3) five years ago.